Call Forwarding Scam: A New Way Of Cybercrime.!
The ‘call forwarding scam’ is a form of fraud in which criminals impersonate customer service representatives of a telecommunications operator or internet service provider in order to trick victims into dialing a code that initiates call forwarding to a fraudulent number. Once this code is dialed, the scammer is able to access the victim’s calls and attempt to log into other accounts and withdraw funds.
The call-forwarding scam has been around for quite some time now, and unfortunately, it seems that scammers are still chancing ways to trick unknown victims.
How does the scam work?
Scammers will call you and pretend to be a client service representative from your mobile network driver or internet service provider. They’ll tell you that your account has been deactivated or there’s some issue with your SIM card. They’ll also tell you that they have a quick fix for this and ask you to telephone a number from your phone.
What the scammers are actually doing is encouraging your calls to a number they have and also they will try to log in to your other accounts, like communicating apps or bank accounts. Since call forwarding is enabled, the scammer can attend your calls and admit OTPs that way.
Scammers are indeed more sophisticated these days. What they do is that they set up a 2-factor authentication on your other accounts which makes it harder for you to get access back.
Similarly, A WhatsApp user from New Delhi was defrauded last year and she lost all her contacts after being asked to call Airtel customer care. While the account was hacked by the trickster, the contacts were targeted in request of money.
How To Stay Safe?
It is recommended that, since the code for calling forwarding is *401* followed by a 10-digit number (supposedly a fraudster’s mobile number in case of scams), you don’t follow the instructions.
Don’t click on any unknown links and engage in any unknown calls.
You can communicate with your mobile network driver and the original police department if you suppose a scammer has targeted you.
How to activate/deactivate call forwarding in Jio, Airtel, Vi and BSNL with codes?
To safeguard against WhatsApp financial fraud, you can follow these steps:
Make sure you’ve enabled two factor authentication on your WhatsApp account. No one is going to be able to access it unless they get an OTP.
CALL FORWARDING (Activating and Deactivating codes):
*401*<10 digit number> = Forwards each and every incoming call
Deactivate call forwarding for all incoming calls – *402
**21*<10 digit number># = Forwards each and every incoming call
Deactivate call forwarding for all incoming calls – ##21#
Vi
**21*<10 digit number> = Forwards each and every incoming call
Deactivate call forwarding for all incoming calls – ##002#
**21**<10 digit number># = Forwards each and every incoming call
Deactivate call forwarding for all incoming calls – ##21#
Links
FRAUD ALERT! Call Airtel `Customer Care` and you could be logged out of WhatsApp
